San Patricio Electric Cooperative, in partnership with CoBank, presented a $5,000 donation to the South Texas Women’s Shelter on October 17.

The South Texas Women’s Shelter is a nonprofit that provides services to victims of domestic and sexual violence across a twelve-county South Texas region, which also overlaps much of SPEC’s service territory.

The donation was delivered at a fitting time, since October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The South Texas Women’s Shelter will use the $5,000 donation to support their Shelter and Supportive Service Program for victims and their families. This direct-services program focuses on free, supportive, comprehensive services for both adults and children. Each victim is provided an individualized safety and support plan, which may include services such as shelter, counseling, legal advocacy and case management.

SPEC’s Board of Directors approved a $2,500 donation to the South Texas Women’s Shelter earlier this year. In hopes of doubling that amount, the co-op applied to CoBank’s Sharing Success program, which matches co-op donations. CoBank approved the application, and brought the total donation up to $5,000.

“The South Texas Women’s Shelter provides a difficult, but important service to people in the communities we serve,” said Ron Hughes, SPEC general manager. “Supporting nonprofits like this allows us to extend a helping hand to more people in the community than we could ever reach on our own. And it’s thanks to CoBank that we’re able to double our efforts this year.”

CoBank’s Sharing Success program was started in 2012 as a way to give back to co-ops and the non-profits they support. Since the program’s inception, CoBank and its customers have together provided nearly $20 million in support to charitable organizations across the nation.

“Sharing Success has become one of the cornerstones of CoBank’s multifaceted corporate giving program,” said Robert B. Engel, CoBank’s chief executive officer. “It leverages the passion, expertise and local knowledge of our customers to identify and support the causes and programs that best address the unique needs of rural communities. We’re delighted our board has generously re-authorized this program and proud to partner with SPEC on this important initiative.”